After the revelations of Ragnarok, Loki is dragged away to the Well of Eternal Sleep by guards even as he wails protests of innocence. It seems Odin is punishing his son for his future crimes that have yet to be perpetrated. He is dumped into a hole, where he is suspended in a state of Kirby Crackle.

This whole quest to discover who cracked the Oversword seems to have lost focus. After accomplishing nothing at sea, Odin now charges Thor, Hogun, Volstagg, and Fandral to visit Musphelheim to collect a powerful magic helmet known as the Warlock’s Eye. Odin wishes to keep this artifact out of the hands of the forces of evil in the face of the coming Ragnarok.

However, a warlord named Harokin has already claimed the Warlock’s eye as his own. Its mighty power is enabling him to conquer Muspelheim. With the Eye, he can unleash a deadly beam from his eye-shaped helmet, decimating any forces before him.

9. The remaining Asgardians, including Thor, battle the unspeakably huge Midgard Serpent.
10. So great is the battle against the serpent that Asgard is torn asunder, “shaking the foundations of infinity itself.”
11. All are dead. All is silent.
12. At last, Surtur, unable to live when all others have died, sears everything with his great sword in a final act of fury, reducing Asgard to a cinder.
13. Eons later life returns and a new race of young gods emerges to build a new civilization.

Having completed her prophecy, the assembled gods stand in humble silence. Unable to bear it, Loki sneers at the prophesy, claiming it shall never come to pass. Odin rebukes his son and tells Loki that he shall himself be the cause of Ragnarok.

The crew of the Odinship have returned home to Asgard. They listen to Volla the Prophetess foretell Ragnarok that is to come.

Here is what will happen:

1. An everlasting frost storm will cover the land.
2. As imminent doom approaches, brother turns against brother.
3. Some Asgardians buckle under the pressure and join the forces of evil in an ultimate act of betrayal. They will be led by Loki.
4. To defend Asgard from this assault, the Asgardians will shatter Bifrost, forever destroying the road to Earth.
5. Heimdell will be felled as he sounds the alarm one final time.
6. Odin will lead the final charge. Amongst his followers include Thor and Fandral.
7. Thor and Loki battle one final time as their world is consumed.
8. At last shall appear the Midgard Serpent, the ultimate destroyer.

Queen Ula holds Loki captive in her hive kingdom of Thryheim. Thor seeks her out, demanding the return of his brother. She wishes to make a trade: Loki’s freedom for Thor’s hand in marriage.

Before Thor can make a decision, there is an unexpected burst of anti-energy, filling the room and knocking out all the flying trolls, while the two Asgardians remain fine. This was the hand of all-powerful Odin at work, and once the brothers return the ship, a giant image of Odin fills the sky, commanding that the crew to return home at once. The danger is in Asgard!

None but Marvel’s Stan Lee could tell such a tale! None but Marvel’s Jack Kirby could draw such a tale! None but Marvel’s Vince Coletta could ink such a tale! None but Marvel’s Artie Simek could be such a pussycat!

The Argonauts of the Odinship find themselves surrounded by flying trolls. It is a standoff, one which Thor tries to defuse. He is making headway in this tense situation when Loki bombards the trolls with a blast of poison vapor.

Thor yells at Loki while the knave claims victory. As the poison fog disperses, the trolls come back for a second pass, seizing Loki with grappling rings. The trolls take the villain back to their hive while Thor and the crew of the Odinship pursue.

Tales of Asgard, Home of the Mighty Norse Gods “Closer Comes the Swarm” How gallant, this script by: Stan Lee/ How glorious, this artwork by: Jack Kirby/ How gracious, this inking by: Vince Colletta/ How come? This lettering by: Artie Simek

After the Utgard incident, Balder drinks Hogun’s Elixir of Healing, while Loki schemes with his confederates. The voyage continues, the mutiny seemingly forgotten, but this is a ship divided. It is during this period of regrouping that the Odinship finds itself under attack by a swarm of flying trolls from the legendary Stone Nest of Thryheim! Led by the bizarrely beautiful Queen Ula, the flying trolls wish to claim the Odinship as their prize!

Loki leads a group of the crew in a mutiny but several Asgardians come to Thor’s defense, including Hogun, Fandril, and Volstagg. The loyalists kill enough mutineers to maintain control, but while this fighting goes on, the ship is pulled between the Pillars of Utgar.

At long last, Thor and Loki actually set sail on their quest. Thor and Loki are immediately at each other’s throats. Meanwhile Magrat is predictably scheming, trying to convince Kroda, who appears to have a sweet cyborg eye, to assassinate Thor. Before he can strike, Hogun steps in and warns Kroda off. This all happens without being witnessed by Thor or Loki.

As the ship flies away, Odin soaks his feet and asks the Master of Prophesy if he made the right decision. The Master assures him that he has.

Tales of Asgard, Home of the Mighty Norse Gods! “Gather, Warriors!” Written with Gallantry by Stan Lee/ Drawn with Greatness by Jack Kirby/ Inked with Grandeur by Vince Colletta/ Lettered with a Straight Face by Artie Simek.

In this issue we meet Young Thor and Young Loki’s crew as they prepare to depart on their quest. There is, of course, Balder the Brave, but there are several volunteers brought on by Loki. They are: Hogun,the Grim; Fandral the Dashing; Kroda, the Duelist; Magrat, the Schemer; and Volstagg, the Enormous.

Apart from Balder, Thor seems to trust boastful Volstagg the most out of this lot. He seems eager for adventure and just as eager to spend some time away from his wife and fifteen children.

While the young men sail away on their ship, Odin reveals to his advisers three fearsome words that have been etched deep onto the walls of the imperial palace in giant letters. The simple message is this: “RAGNAROK IS COMING”.

Ragnarok is the end of the world itself. That which is to transpire upon the drawing of the Oversword. The time for which Surtur is always waiting. The day of the last battle.

First appearance: Hogun the Grim, Fandral the Dashing, Volstagg the Enormous, Kroda the Duellist, Magrat the Schemer

Young Thor and Young Loki prepare for their quest to determine who cracked the Oversword of Asgard. Morduk, an Asgardian sage, has prepared a map for the brothers to follow on their journey. Morduk also gives Thor an enchanted crimson glove. When the wearer of the glove clasps the hand of another, neither party may speak anything but the full truth.

Thor meets up with Loki. His brother is in the company of Braggi, chosen by Loki to be the overseer of the crew on their trip. Thor uses his new mystic Hand of Truth to shake the hand of Braggi who tells the godling that “I wish thee naught but harm, unsuspecting one! Once we have set sail, I shall smite thee from behind and slay thee!”

Thor beats on Braggi enough for the would-be assassin to flee in terror. Thor tries to use the glove on his brother, but Loki sees right through that blunt ruse and leaves his brother hanging. As Agnar blows the Dragon Horn of Asgard, the brothers prepare to depart on their voyage.

Tales of Asgard, Home of the Mighty Gods! “The Sword in the Scabbard!” Beginning: One of the greatest sagas of all time!! By: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby/ Inking: Vince Colletta/ Lettering: Artie Simek

Young Thor and Young Loki are fighting due to Loki’s misdeeds when Odin summons them both to the room containing the Oversword of Asgard. The Oversword (also known as the Odinsword) is an absurdly large sheathed sword. Legend has it that if it ever leaves its sheath, the universe will come to an end.

Odin has brought his sons to the sword to show them a grim portent: There is a crack in the sheathed sword. Odin fears the worst, that some great malevolent force has created the crack, and will continue to do more damage to the sword, eventually bringing about the end of the universe. Odin commands his sons to seek out the cause of this crack and crush it utterly, whatever it may be.

Young Loki wants to make more secret allies after his success with Ghan. His second choice is King Hymir, an amazing looking dude with a fantastic hat. Young Loki and Young Thor are visiting the king on a diplomatic mission. Loki suggests to Hymir that Thor would be honor bound to accept any challenge posed to him by Hymir, who is famous for his evil challenges.

Hymir gives Thor two challenges, the penalty for failure being enslavement. First, Thor is tasked with catching a fish from the Sea of Eternal Darkness. Thor kills a giant sea monster with his giant hammer and calls the challenge completed.

The fish is just prelude for the main event. Thor is given two minutes to break a particular drinking goblet. It turns out that this goblet is enchanted so to protect it from harm. Thor’s solution is hurl the cup at Hymir so hard that it kills the king. Instead it strikes Hymir’s beautiful, beautiful hat and shatters against it, because the hat was the catalyst for the enchantment.

Thor has won the challenge and Loki has lost the favor of Hymir. Hymir, nay, the world, has lost the greatest hat of all time.

Young Thor leads a force of Asgardians to battle Ghan, most deadly of the Storm Giants. The Asgardians are winning the fight but before they can capture the Giant, he disappears. The warriors head home in defeat.

After the other Asgardians depart, Loki stays behind as Ghan is revealed once more. A timely spell at the hands of the trickster was the reason for the Giant’s disappearance. Ghan thanks Loki for his aid and departs. Loki has made his brother look bad while winning himself a secret ally.

10 Year Old Thor and his half-brother Loki are watching a quarterstaff tournament. Thor is impressed by the skill of Uller. Loki cannot bear to agree with he brother so he wagers that clumsy Volsak will win. After making his hasty wager, Loki realizes that Thor is right about Uller as he oh-so-often is.

Not wanting to lose face, Loki uses a spell that he recently learned from the Norn Witch Women to dismantle Uller’s weapon. This wins Volsak the tournament but the witchcraft was obvious. Upset adults approach Thor and Loki, accusing Loki of cheating.

Thor speaks in his brother’s defense, angry that they assumed the worst of Loki and insisting that any punishment be shared between the brothers. The crowd is so moved by Thor’s gallantry that the brothers are dismissed with no punishment.

Loki seethes with anger at how the two brothers are respectively treated while Thor is content, believing the matter settled. Thor suggests they race to the rainbow bridge on horse. Loki complains that Thor has the faster steed while Thor smugly counters that it is not merely the horse that matters but also the skill of the rider as he outraces Loki on his better horse. This is a perfect Thor and Loki story.

One day Young Thor, Young Loki, and Young Balder are taking a shortcut through a forest when they meet Sigurd. Sigurd is a big hairy bloke who understandably wants these brash godlings out of his forest. Thor doesn’t know him but Loki recognizes him, and Balder seems to have heard of him.

At Loki’s urging Thor picks a fight with Sigurd. Sigurd is holding his own until Balder remembers Sigurd’s secret power: Sigurd is the son of the Earth Sprites, and each time his body strikes the ground, they give him some of their power. So Thor hurls the poor bastard into outer space.

Written and drawn by the prize-winning team of Stan (The Man) Lee and Jack (King) Kirby/ Inked by Vince Colletta/ Lettering: Art Simek

Watching as Balder sings to the woodland creatures like he’s fucking Snow White, Young Loki vows to find a way to destroy the jerk. To do so, he seeks the help of the Norn Queen, a powerful sorceress. She is repulsed by Loki’s evil, but is compelled to obey the Asgardian prince.

Odin has made every living thing pledge to protect Balder but the Norn Queen reveals to Loki that Odin has overlooked one thing: Balder has no protection from the mistletoe. Giddy with this knowledge, Loki visits one of his Troll slaves, commanding him to fashion a blowgun and dart out of mistletoe.

The next day, armed with his new weapon, Loki watches Baldur spar, waiting for him to fall. The villain wishes to hide his misdeed, so when Baldur takes a hit, that is when Loki will strike with his dart.

Eventually, Baldur stumbles, trying to avoid stepping on a caterpillar, and Loki makes his move. It is a that moment that the Norn Queen uses her magic to burn the mistletoe to ash. The mistletoe may not have pledged to protect Baldur, but Loki forgot that the Norn Queen herself took that solemn pledge.